Detail your Clubs Before the Season

Spring is here! And a few things that we all do when we start to see the snow disappear off the roads is one, replace our winter tires with our summer ones to obviously make sure we get the right traction and two, wash our disgusting looking vehicles!!

You probably know where I’m going with this…but one of the ways I get myself excited for the season is to clean my golf clubs! Just like washing your car after the snow melts symbolizes that Spring is here, shining up and detailing your sticks symbolizes that the golf season is just around the corner and this is always exciting to us Alberta golfers. So now is the time to dig out your golf clubs from your basement or garage and give them the treatment they deserve.

Start by inspecting the condition of your clubs; first and most importantly check your grips. Most likely, they’ll need a good wash. After a round of golf, grass stains, dirt, sand and sweat can affect the grips on your clubs, making them slippery, which will be a big detriment to your game. As I tell all my students, it starts with a good grip and a well-maintained golf club grip can help ensure that you swing your clubs properly. Follow these simple steps to get your grips clean and ready for the season.

Step 1:
Fill the sink or bucket you are using with warm water. The water shouldn’t be too hot though, as you will be placing your hands in that water and also heat can cause the glue underneath the grip to loosen.
Step 2:
Place about two teaspoons of the soap into the water.
Step 3:
Dip one of the dishcloths into the soapy water. Be sure to wring the cloth out before touching the grip with the cloth.
Step 4:
Wrap the cloth around the grip of the golf club. Make sure that the cloth is around the entire grip of the club.
Step 5:
Wipe up and down the golf club grip to ensure that you have cleaned the entire grip. You may wish to repeat steps 3-5 once more if your golf club grip is very dirty.
Step 6:
Use the second cloth to dry the golf club grip. Wrap this clean, dry cloth around the grip and wipe up and down the grip to ensure that you have thoroughly dried the grip.

It is important to keep your golf grips clean so you can lengthen their life span, so be sure to clean your grips as often as necessary this season. Also do not forget about your grooves; clean grooves create lift and spin, obviously important elements to get the ball flying in the direction you intend it to, so always, always make sure your grooves are clean before each shot.

A small investment of your time could end up saving money in the long run, but more importantly, it will save you a few strokes on the golf course!